Build 04
Samurai and Demons, Descend!
Sunset sat slumped over one of the tables in the club room, sighing as she stared across the table at her Unicorn Gundam Gunpla. Several weeks had passed since the Gunpla Battle Club had been officially opened and the club thus far had been a roaring success, attracting a wealth of students into the world of Gunpla. Ever since her battle against Vice-Principal Luna, Sunset’s own skills as both a Gunpla builder and a fighter had significantly improved, but Sunset still couldn’t shake the lingering feeling that she was missing something.
“Everything alright, Sunset?” Twilight asked as she pulled up a chair and sat down next to Sunset.
Sighing, Sunset buried her head in her arms. “I don’t know, Twilight…” she mumbled, raising her head after a moment to continue her staring contest with the Gunpla. “Ever since this club started, I’ve built more than a few Gunpla, but I can’t help but keep coming back to this one in particular.”
“Well, it was the first one you ever built, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t be special to you.”
“But I feel like I could do better, like there’s some way I could make this Unicorn Gundam even better.” Sighing again, Sunset sat up straighter and reached across the table to pick up the Gunpla. “Maybe even like what you and Luna have.”
Twilight tilted her head slightly. “Me and Luna?”
“You know, you own personal Gunpla, one that is uniquely yours and yours alone. Luna has her Deathscythe Nightmare and you have your Star Nexus, but all I have is this regular Gunpla.”
“Ah, I see,” Twilight said, now understanding Sunset’s plight. “You want to customize and personalize your Gunpla, but you don’t know where to start, do you?”
“Yeah, pretty much. I mean, I could always just paint it, I guess, but even that doesn’t feel like enough. I might be overestimating myself and my abilities just a little, but I can’t help but want something more than that.” In her mind's eye, a blurry image began to form. “Like there’s this image in my head that I can’t quite grasp just yet, and it’s driving me nuts.”
Silence hovered between the two for several moments before Twilight put her hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “I’ve got an idea, how about a quick battle to take your mind off of this for now?”
Thinking it over, Sunset signed yet again. “Sure, a quick battle sounds like a good way to cheer me up.”
“Excellent!” Grabbing Sunset’s wrist, Twilight led her towards the clear cases containing the club’s completed Gunpla, the number of Gunpla inside having multiplied a considerable amount since the club had started. “It might be a good idea if you used a Gunpla you’re not familiar with. Now let’s see… ah ha!” Reaching into one of the cases, Twilight selected one of the Gunpla and set it on the table.
The chosen Gunpla was largely white in color, with rare accents of blue and yellow such as on the vents in the chest and along the large wings on its back. While the Gunpla was still humanoid, several features like the horns on its head or the sharpened look of the feet gave the model an almost demonic look. Attached at the back of the waist was a holster carrying a pair of golden bladed swords and on its left shoulder was the insignia of a blue horn.
“What’s this?” Sunset asked as she picked up the Gunpla for a closer look.
“Gundam Bael, the first of seventy-two Gundam Frames created by the founder of Gjallarhorn, Agnika Kaieru, during the conflict known as the Calamity War,” Twilight explained, her voice taking on the tone of someone about to give a history lecture. “Thanks to the revolutionary ‘Alaya-Vijnana System’, it was able to directly connect to the pilot’s spine, allowing them to process incoming information at a much faster rate and granting them the ability to control the Gundam as seamlessly as their own body. After the Calamity War ended, it was kept locked away for three hundred years before McGillis Fareed attempted to—”
“Ok, ok, I get the picture,” Sunset interjected before Twilight could go on for the next hour. Turning the Gunpla over in her hand, Sunset asked, “So you want me to fight with this?”
Nodding her head, Twilight said, “Who knows, it might give you a new perspective on what your Gunpla is lacking and maybe even help clear up that image in your head a little.” Turning her attention back towards the cases, Twilight began to glance from one Gunpla to another. “And I think I’ll use—”
Suddenly, the door to the club room was thrown open and a trio of rambunctious pre-teens came rushing in. In the lead was Apple Bloom, while her fellow “Crusaders”, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, followed right behind her. Before Sunset and Twilight knew it, the group blew through the room like an F-4 tornado, scattering supplies and knocking yet to be built kits off the counter as Gunpla seemed to quiver in their cases.
“Girls!” Twilight finally shouted, managing to get the group to stop for a moment before they could completely tear the room apart. “Could you all please settle down? We are still in school, after all…”
“Oh… sorry, Twilight,” Apple Bloom apologized, looking downcast upon noticing the mess they’d made. “I guess we just got excited, was all. I’ve been tellin’ the Crusaders about how fun the Gunpla Battle Club has been, but Scootaloo keeps sayin’ it’s just for nerds!”
“Well, it is!” Scootaloo said. “I mean, playing with dolls? That’s little kids stuff!”
Apple Bloom huffed, puffing her cheeks out. “I keep tellin’ ya that they ain’t dolls! They’re models of giant robots!”
“Same thing,” Scootaloo remarked. “I mean, you wouldn’t catch Rainbow Dash playing with one of them, that’s for sure.”
“Actually…” Twilight interjected. “Rainbow Dash has been a member of the Gunpla Battle Club ever since its inception.”
Scootaloo snorted dismissively. “Yeah right, you’re just saying that…”
“No, it’s true. In fact, I have one of her Gunpla right here.” Moving to a different case, Twilight pulled out Rainbow’s Arios Gundam to show her. Walking up to her, Twilight knelt down and held the Gunpla out to her. “See?”
Scootaloo seemed taken aback by the Gunpla in Twilight’s grip. “R-Rainbow Dash built this?”
“Mmhmm.”
Taking the Gunpla in her hands like it was the most precious of treasures, Scootaloo admired the complete Gunpla. “I… I guess if Rainbow Dash thinks it’s cool, then it can’t be all bad…”
“Ha! Told ya you’d like it!” Apple Bloom smirked triumphantly. “Oh! I just remembered!” Rummaging around in her bag for a moment, Apple Bloom pulled something out and held it up for Twilight to see. “I wanted to show you the Gunpla I just finished!”
Nestled in Apple Blooms outstretched hands was an SD Gundam, covered in crimson and gold armor befitting a feudal era samurai and carrying a large katana at its hip. Strapped to its back were also a musket style firearm and a spear with a curved golden blade.
“This looks wonderful, Apple Bloom!” Twilight praised her as she admired the SD. “It looks like you’ve even taken the time to apply a fresh coat of paint and panel line it.”
“Yep! I worked super hard on this one this time.”
“I can see that.” Getting a thoughtful look in her eyes, Twilight glanced at Sunset for a moment before turning back to Apple Bloom. “Say… how would you like to test out your new Gunpla in a battle right now?”
“Really?” Apple Bloom’s eyes sparkled at the offer. “Of course! I can show Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle how cool Gunpla Battle is!”
“Sunset, would you mind?” Twilight asked, glancing at the GB projector for a moment.
“Not at all. Looks like I’m your opponent for this fight, Apple Bloom.”
[Gunpla Battle, Combat Mode, Startup. Model Damage Level Set to C. Please Set Your GP Base.]
As the two fighters docked their GP Bases, the blue particles of the projector were released, forming a sprawling feudal castle straight out the Sengoku Era, the full moon in the night sky bathing the castle in a glow of pale moonlight.
[Field 11, Castle. Please Set Your Gunpla.]
“Alright, Gundam Bael, let’s see what you can do.” Setting the Gundam Bael onto the base, the Gunpla came to life as it was bathed in blue light, standing at the ready to fight.
[Battle Start!]
“Sunset Shimmer, Gundam Bael!”
“Apple Bloom, SD Musha Gundam!”
“Launching!”
Soaring across the night sky, it wasn’t long before the Gundam Bael touched down outside the gates to the castle, its eyes drawn to the top of the structure. Silhouetted against the moon was a lone samurai, sworn on his honor to defend the keep belonging to his lord. Leaping from one tower to another, the Musha Gundam dropped onto the ground in front of the castle gates, gazing up at the towering demon hoping to seek entry.
Neither machine spoke a word, a silent understanding passing between them. Slowly, Gundam Bael drew both of its swords and held them ready at its sides, the Musha Gundam doing the same as it unsheathed its katana and prepared to defend the castle with its very life. A blanket of silence settled over the pair as neither machine moved an inch, a light breeze sweeping through the castle grounds as a leaf drifted off a lone tree branch and lightly touched the ground.
In a flash, both Gunpla blitzed forward, the Gundam Bael swinging its swords in a downward slashing motion, only for the Musha Gundam to sheath its katana and slid right between the Gundam’s legs to behind it. As soon at it stopped sliding, the Musha Gundam spun on its heel and drew its katana with lightning speed, slashing the demonic Gunpla across the back in a flash of steel.
The Gundam Bael reacted just as quickly, spreading its wings and shooting up into the sky in a trail of blue light, the attack only doing minor damage to its wings. Looping around, the Gundam Bael dive-bombed the Musha Gundam, forcing the SD Gunpla to dodge roll out of the way, it’s much smaller size granting it a degree of greater speed and mobility compared to the larger Real Types.
Leaping onto a nearby overhang, the Musha leapt into the air, whipping its mucket off its back and firing a quick shot of lead at the still airborne Gundam Bael. In a flash of gold, however, the Gundam Bael spun back around and deflected the rounds with its swords, dropping down and bracing its legs against the ground before catapulting itself into the air and slamming into the SD Gundam with enough force to send it rocketing through the sky like a volleyed football, smashing through an observation tower before crashing within the castle courtyard and skipping across the ground like a stone across water before finally coming to a gradual stop.
The Musha Gundam lay motionless as the Gundam Bael burst through the castle gates, tearing through the reinforced wood like it was wet tissue paper. Spotting its prey lying defenseless on the ground, the demon Gunpla fired up its thrusters and launched itself across the courtyard with the intent of rending its prey to pieces.
Just as the Gundam Bael swung its swords, however, the Musha Gundam suddenly snapped awake, flipping around and kicking the sword clean out of the Gundam’s hand and sending it shooting across the courtyard to embed itself deep into the stone wall. In the same second, the Musha Gundam raised its musket and fired a second volley, the buckshot hitting home as the right half the Gundam Bael’s face was blown off, forcing it to reel back as it seemingly cried out in agony.
Rolling to its feet, the SD Gundam quickly grabbed its spear off its back and brandished it, the golden blade glinting in the pale moonlight as the SD leapt up and swung the weapon across the Gundam’s shoulder, tearing a large gash across the Gjallarhorn insignia. As the Gundam Bael staggered back, the SD Gundam continued to hop around like a jackrabbit, slashing at it at every turn as it backed the Gundam closer and closer to the wall.
Any attempts to repel the jumping SD proved futile, as the machine was too quick to swat aside, easily knocking the Gundam Bael’s remaining sword out of its grip and forcing the Gundam on the defensive as it held its arms up to defend itself, its armor now covered in scores of nicks and gashes.
Spinning its spear, the crescent blade glowed with a golden light as the samurai harnessed his ki into the blade, prepared to strike the final blow. With one final leap, it spun it spear over its head as it aimed for the Gundam’s head.
In a blink of motion, the Gundam Bael slammed its foot onto the hilt of its dropped sword, sending the blade flipping up and back into its hand as it put all it had into its thrusters and blitzed forward, a slash of steel cutting through the night sky as it landed on the other side of the courtyard and calmly sheathed its sword.
The headless SD dropped to the ground moments later, the head joining it soon after as it slammed into the dirt, the eyes replaced with cartoonish X’s.
[Battle Ended! Winner, Gundam Bael!]
“Aww… I lost.” Despite the loss, however, Apple Bloom was still smiling from ear to ear. “That was fun! Thanks so much for battlin’ against me, Sunset.”
“No problem,” Sunset replied, also smiling. “You almost had me there near the end though, so maybe next time?”
“Maybe!” Grabbing her Gunpla off the machine, Apple Bloom ran up to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. “Well? What ya think?”
“Gotta say,” Scootaloo begrudgingly said, “That was pretty cool.”
“Shame you didn’t win though,” Sweetie Belle added, frowning slightly.
“Winnin’ would have been nice, but the best part of Gunpla Battle is that y’all can have fun even if ya don’t win! Want to try?”
“Definitely!” Sweetie Belle replied, both her and glancing at Scootaloo with hopeful looks on their faces.
“... Fiiine…”
“Yay!” The two cheered as they hugged the tomboy, who grumbled under the sudden show of affection.
Twilight couldn’t help but smile as the three talked amongst themselves. Looks like the Gunpla Battle Club just got itself two new members.
As Sunset watched, the image in her mind from before slowly began to become a little bit clearer. Looks like Twilight was right, all I needed was a different perspective. Just wait a little longer, Unicorn Gundam, and I’ll be able to make this image a reality.
***
Meanwhile, Principal Celestia was going over some paperwork in her office when the phone on her desk rang. Snatching it up on the second ring, Celestia raised the receiver to her ear. “Principal Celestia speaking.”
“Why, hello, Principal Celestia.”
Celestia scowled, her teeth grinding together at the sound of the familiar and unwanted voice. “Principal Cinch. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Such hostilities, Celestia. Is that any way to talk to your fellow principal?”
“It is after what happened at the Friendship Game,” Celestia retorted bluntly. “Luckily, Twilight Sparkle is doing much better here at Canterlot High alongside her new friends.”
“Ah, yes, Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia could positively feel the utter disdain for the girl in Cinch’s voice. “What happened during the Friendship Games was… unfortunate, but I feel we can put the past behind us and move on with fostering good relations between our two schools, just like you always wanted.”
Yeah right, and I’m a magical princess. “You still haven’t told me the reason for your call.”
“Ah, forgive me. Word through the grapevine is that Canterlot High finally started their own Gunpla model club. Of course, Crystal Prep has already had a model club for several years now, and many of our students have gone on to win Builders Contests all over the country—”
“Get to the point, Cinch.” Celestia harshly interrupted. “Because if you just called to gloat—”
“Oh, perish the thought! I merely wished to inform you about a certain proposition of mine.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow skeptically. “... What kind of ‘proposition’?”
“Why, a Gunpla Battle tournament between our two schools, of course! Sixteen students competing in single elimination, one on one fights. I think It would be a great way for our students to bond over their shared hobby and swap techniques, don’t you?”
“... What’s the catch?”
“Principal Celestia! Is it so hard to believe I generally want our students to prosper without any kind of alternative motive? In fact, as a show of good faith, I am willing to supply Canterlot High with a supply of GB Projectors for this very purpose. Of course, given how expensive these machines can be, I think it only fair that they go to the winner after all is said and done. What do you say?”
Principal Celestia was silent, going over everything in her head and finding herself at a crossroads. On the one hand, Celestia’s opinion of her fellow principal had fallen significantly after the stunt she’d pulled at the Friendship Games, endangering not only the lives of their students but potentially the whole world if what Sunset had said was true, all in the pursuit of her own inflated ego. Celestia had wanted to believe that Cinch, despite her overbearing personality, truly cared for the well-being of her students as a fellow principal, but in the end, Celestia had been gravely mistaken.
On the other hand, however… Cinch did have a point, as hard as that was to admit. The one good thing that Celestia could say had been brought about by the most recent Friendship Games had been that the Crystal Prep students had been quick to realize their mistake and had been adamant on making amends, resulting in several budding friendships that wouldn’t have been able to have formed otherwise. This tournament could very well have the same effect in the long run, even if it was still just a thinly veiled attempt for Cinch to lord her superior over Celestia and her school.
Even more, Celestia knew that even if she refused Cinch’s offer, then the woman would likely just find some other way of trying to get back at Canterlot High before long. This could be just the way for Celestia to nip that problem in the bud before it could be allowed to fester. But did all that justify the potential risks that could still happen?
“... Alright, Cinch, I accept your proposal,” Celestia finally said, despite her misgivings. “However, I do have one condition first.”
“And what might that be?”
“You agree to a full system diagnosis of all the GB Projectors to be used for this tournament, in order to ensure there won’t be any tampering or sabotage that could unfairly affect the outcome of the tournament. Sound fair?”
“Of course. I was also thinking, to make it more interesting, how about we set the Damage Level to A for this event?”
“Absolutely not.” Celestia was quick to reply, having done her research beforehand. “My students have worked hard to build their Gunpla, I will not see them needlessly destroyed for the sake of entertainment. Level C is more than fine.”
“I disagree. Without some kind of consequences, how will we ensure that the contestants will fight to the absolute best of their abilities? Level C is so boring, at least compromise and raise it to B for the tournament.”
Again, Celestia found herself at a crossroads. Even knowing it was a potentially dangerous idea, Celestia knew that if she didn’t agree to this then Cinch wouldn’t rest until she was able to weasel some kind of concession out of her. At least this way she could hope to mitigate any potential damage to the mentality of her students. “Very well, Level B it is.”
“Wonderful! The tournament will be scheduled for one week from now, which should give everyone ample time to prepare. Does that sound acceptable?”
One week, more than enough time to prepare my students for anything that might lay ahead. “That sounds fine with me.”
“Good. See you then, and good luck!” With a click, Cinch hung up without another word. Placing the phone back onto its cradle, Celestia slumped back in her chair, sighing as she felt a heavy weight set over her shoulders.
“I have to inform Luna about this and fast. Hopefully, I didn’t just make a huge mistake…”
[Next Time: Gunpla Training Camp, Begins!]
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Principal Celestia has no idea how right she is.
Slight clarification: is that 16 in total or on each team?
9039174
Sixteen total, eight from CH and eight from CP.
9039184
thank you
Cinch is definitely up to something. But didn't she get fired? Or does this take place before then?
9039291
either she was able to weasel her way out of it, or theres another factor at work here. regardless...those who climb highest, have further to fall...
Yeah I want turn my darkmoons weapons on principless bitch. Like say the gatling and flame throwers at the same time.
9039291
This would probably get her fired gambling with government funding and school equipment (even if it is for a club).
9042763
it WAS Deathscythe Hell, just a personalized version of the Gundam, just like Twilights personal unit is based around the Legend Gundam, just customized to her idea about what that Gundam embodies.
9039184
Poison-sama, while it is obvious that Sun-chan and her friends will make the CHS team...that is only seven...who is the final team member?
Surprise to see Cinch considering i n Canon she left CP.
Scoots better go real Gundam though, SD is just to girly
I kinda want to see people with standard mobile suits like zakus Leo’s serpents goufs I loved the kamper from 0080 war in the pocket decked with shotguns rocket lunachers grenades
Hmm, so a tournament against CP? Time to speculate on the Shadowbolt gunpla!
Indigo is the easy one, since she's Dash's counterpart she'll probably have a transformable like a Zeta herself.
The others are harder to pin down, but the Extreme gundam would be a good pick for Lemon Zest with its rock and roll theme. And I wanna say Barbatos for Sugarcoat...since it likes hitting people with bluntness just like her.
Well, well, well... so Cinch is back, is she? While I can guess what her motive is for this(possibly a 'eye for an eye' moment for CHS considering what went down last time)...Didn't she get fired after that fateful day? Why is she still running Crystal Prep, and not, say...locked up in(what I assume is) Tartarus State Penitentiary?